Design and Validation of an Exoskeleton for Hand Rehabilitation in Adult Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

For the outcomes achieved in this study, it was considered the previous research carried out for the design and creation of a functional prototype of a hand exoskeleton for the rehabilitation of older adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies. The results of each research allowed continuing a line of development until reaching the creation of a portable hand exoskeleton based on an adapted exo-glove that allows the self-supported flexion-extension of the fingers with some opposing tension and facilitates the management of the rehabilitation processes through medical/therapeutic exercises that contribute to reduce the pain caused by the disease. The degree of usability of the system presented considers a user-centered approach, therefore a methodology was designed for the validation of the ARTH-aid System ExoGlove, involving a generic group of 30 patients and an expert group of physiotherapists from an elderly care home in Quito, Ecuador.